I have Slackware 64 14.1 and a Brother MFC-J870DW AIO. XSane detects the brother scanner, but when i click "Acquire preview" or "Scan" XSane just quits without any error message at all. I'm logged in as root, and run XSane with root privileges. Is there a logfile created somewhere that reports what happens on the exit?

Thanks in advance

allend

04-07-2014 03:23 AM

My Brother MFC-J825DW fails to scan when the default 24bit Color(Fast) scan mode is used. All is OK when I change to the 24bit Color scan mode.

Unfortunately, XSane 0.998 only gives me a 24 bit Color(fast) color mode, the other options are Black & White, True Gray, and Gray(Error Diffusion). Or are you using the scanimage command to do regular 24-bit color mode? If so, any way to get XSane in 24 bit color mode?

Were you able to scan as user (whatever your user name)?
Xsane issues a warning when you fire it up as root.

allend

04-07-2014 08:00 PM

XSane can only use the modes that are supplied by the driver. I was actually using an earlier version of the Brother scanner driver (0.4.1-3) installed from a package built from brscan4-0.4.1-3.x86_64.rpm according to the method at SlackDocs. http://docs.slackware.com/howtos:har...installation?s[]=brother

I have downloaded and installed the latest scanner driver (0.4.2-1) now available from Brother that supports both my MFC-J825DW and your MFC-J870DW. I have no problems seeing the 24Bit Color mode or scanning from XSane.

seskanda

04-08-2014 02:29 AM

I installed the printer driver using the directions from Brother's FAQ: http://support.brother.com/g/s/id/li...&redirect=on#1 which says to use alien with -t and -c options. I used the same link provided from slackdocs to install the scanner, except I skipped the sections "Reviewing and updating the converted packages" and "Create a symlink" since I do not understand what ../ means in the first and third commands. So what i did is use alien to make the slackware package for the scanner, but when i install that XSane is still missing the 24 bit color mode

And when i try scanimage it produces a 37 byte file that's literally blank. Either the latest scanner driver disabled 24 bit color mode for my MFC-J870DW, it simply does not support that mode, or i'm not installed the scanner driver correctly. I'd need an earlier scanner driver to confirm if the one i have is the issue, please can someone attach or link to an older brscan4 64 bit driver?

allend

04-08-2014 03:12 AM

This is starting to look like a bug in the Brother driver.
Just for giggles, can you run brsaneconfig4 specifying 'model=MFC-J825DW' and then collect the output of 'scanimage --help'? I am curious as to whether the 24bit Color mode then shows, as we know that it works with a genuine MFC-J825DW.

I do have a copy of the original 64bit rpm and a Slackware package prepared from it for the version 0.4.1-3 driver, but I cannot access them until I get home later. Feel free to PM me with an email address if you would like me to supply copies.

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used the same link provided from slackdocs to install the scanner, except I skipped the sections "Reviewing and updating the converted packages" and "Create a symlink"

This should not be problem. The symlink is only used when installing the printer driver.

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So what i did is use alien to make the slackware package for the scanner,

I have never used alien, but other people have reported that it has worked for them. The SlackDocs page shows a package conversion method that can be done using tools in a default Slackware install.

allend

04-08-2014 07:58 AM

One other thought I have had is to check that your MFC-J870DW is using the latest firmware. I have a multiboot machine, so I use the Brother Windows tool for this.

seskanda

04-08-2014 06:30 PM

I ran the brsaneconfig4 command exactly as shown in the slackdocs link provided above, but "scanimage --help", after several minutes, gives me:

Code:

scanimage: open of device SCANNER failed: Invalid argument
Type ``scanimage --help -d DEVICE'' to get list of all options for DEVICE.

Quote:

I do have a copy of the original 64bit rpm and a Slackware package prepared from it for the version 0.4.1-3 driver, but I cannot access them until I get home later. Feel free to PM me with an email address if you would like me to supply copies.

My account is not able to send or receive PMs. I'd appreciate it if you'd upload the file on some site, and provide the link in this thread. Also, do you know the date of the older driver? The MFC-J870DW is fairly new model, from less than a year ago, so it possible the old driver may not support MFC-J870DW.

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I have never used alien, but other people have reported that it has worked for them. The SlackDocs page shows a package conversion method that can be done using tools in a default Slackware install.

Since, unlike in Windows, the printer and scanner driver are separate, they do not depend on each other. So it should not matter whether alien or rpm2txz is used. Although, i prefer the way in the slackdocs link as there is no need to install anything, and it adds a description to the package in pkgtool.

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One other thought I have had is to check that your MFC-J870DW is using the latest firmware. I have a multiboot machine, so I use the Brother Windows tool for this.

I also have a multiboot setup. I'm wondering what Brother Windows tool shows firmware? When i access the MFC-J870DW directly via its onscreen controls, it leads me to Firmware Version D.

allend

04-08-2014 07:46 PM

Quote:

I ran the brsaneconfig4 command exactly as shown in the slackdocs link

That command would need to be modified to suit your setup, as it is for a device with a network connection, whereas you appear to be using a USB connection. Try 'brsaneconfig4 -a name=SCANNER model=MFC-J825DW' and 'brsaneconfig4 -d' for diagnostic information.

The 0.4.1-3 software version I have is earlier than 29 December 2012, which is when I downloaded. I think you will need to use the latest software version. I note that there is an entry for your model in /etc/opt/brother/scanner/brscan4//models4/ext_7.ini whereas the entry for my model is in /etc/opt/brother/scanner/brscan4//models4/ext_1.ini

I would just use the Firmware Update tool from within Windows to check that the firmware is up to date.

I am concerned that the MFC-J870DW is not reporting the 24bit Color option. I do not think that you are doing anything wrong. I suggest that you contact Brother support directly about this issue. I have done so in the past and have always received quick, courteous and knowledgeable replies.

seskanda

04-09-2014 11:01 AM

When i ran 'brsaneconfig4 -a name=SCANNER model=MFC-J825DW' i get Invalid argument 0. And scanimage --help gives me 'scanimage: open of device brother4:net1;dev0 failed: Invalid argument. Type ``scanimage --help -d DEVICE'' to get list of all options for DEVICE.' I see your other driver is too old for the MFC-J870DW, but if their is an entry for my model, it may work, please can you upload it and provide the link here? The Firmware Update Tool does not report the current firmware version, it checks for newest version, and automatically updates it.

Quote:

I am concerned that the MFC-J870DW is not reporting the 24bit Color option. I do not think that you are doing anything wrong. I suggest that you contact Brother support directly about this issue. I have done so in the past and have always received quick, courteous and knowledgeable replies.

Well, i did contact the Live Chat, once I mentioned my OS is Linux, they told me they cannot provide phone or chat support, but sent me to this link: http://www.brother-usa.com/FAQs/Solu...2#.U0VgEPFVHeR where i filled out a form in the first link, and they are supposed to respond by the end of today, but I doubt it. I did manage to get an actual e-mail address for Brother's linux support, I'll try that if all else fails. They clearly are not knowledgeable, at least when it comes to Linux, which is to be expected.

seskanda

04-10-2014 11:13 AM

Well, i found an older driver version 0.4.1-6 from August 2013, and it is still missing a 24-bit color mode. I guess that means it is disabled in the driver for the MFC-J870DW, either intentionally or unintentionally, I'm not installing it right, or the firmware does not support it. I doubt a f/w upgrade will fix it, unless it specifically addresses this issue. I may be better off doing a f/w downgrade, if that's at all possible. As expected, i heard nothing back from Brother, it's time to e-mail them directly now. I will install the MFC-J870DW on Ubuntu and see if scanning in color works.

allend

04-10-2014 12:50 PM

There is a report that that your MFC-J870DW _will_ work. http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=161673
Are you sure that you have the right driver package? i.e. brscan4-0.4.2-1.x86_64.rpm
Brother printer drivers are 32bit only, but the scanner drivers are available in 32bit and 64bit versions.

Your expectations of service and mine obviously differ. If I get a response within 36 hours of an initial email, then I consider that fast.

seskanda

04-11-2014 02:19 AM

I'm absolutely using brscan4-0.4.2-1.x86_64.rpm and brscan4-0.4.1-6.x86_64.rpm is the older one. Both drivers were converted to txz using the slackdocs link or to tgz with alien, and herein i think lies the problem. Because I just installed the 64-bit .deb scanner driver on Ubuntu 13.10 x64, and after installing XSane and brother-udev-rule-type1-1.0.0-1.all.deb, scanning in color works!!! :eek: But here's the kicker, there is NO 24-bit color mode only 24-bit color[Fast] mode. I don't know what else would cause XSane to exit in Slackware but not in Ubuntu, except converting the package. I'm still wondering where the log of XSane is stored, so i look at it and maybe figure out what's going on.

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Your expectations of service and mine obviously differ. If I get a response within 36 hours of an initial email, then I consider that fast.

Well, that 36 hours is over, and still no response from Brother. I will be sending an email to them very shortly. They may direct me to Slackware support. I would not be surprised at all by that.